Building structures

ABSTRACT

A simulated log building is constructed by first assembling a conventional “stick built” frame and then attaching to upright exterior faces of the frame, rows of siding that are made of solid wood sections shaped to simulate the appearance of logs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to building structures, such as domestic or recreational homes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] So-called “log homes” are a visually appealing and popular form of building. Traditionally, the walls of a log home are built using actual logs that are laid horizontally one on top of another. Gaps between the logs are sealed or “chinked” for weather tightness. At the corners of the structure, the logs are cut to form corner joints so that the logs of one wall interlock with the logs of a wall at right angles to the first wall. The logs must also be cut to form window and door openings.

[0003] This method of construction is costly. Not only is the construction process very time consuming but significant skill is required of the workers, particularly to form the corner joints between adjacent walls. Also, heavy equipment must be used to bring the logs to site and place the logs one on top of another. The logs themselves are also quite costly to buy.

[0004] A further drawback is that the walls cannot be insulated unless supplementary strapping or framing is provided on the interior wall surfaces. Obviously, when this is done, the logs are concealed from view at the interior of the building, which may be considered cosmetically undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of the invention is to address some of these issues by providing a method of constructing a building structure having a simulated log appearance.

[0006] The method of the invention includes the steps of erecting a frame defining walls of the building having upright exterior faces, and applying to those upright faces, horizontal rows of siding to clad the faces and define exterior wall surfaces of the structure. Each row of siding includes at least one elongate siding section comprising a face portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, each of which is made of solid wood and extends over the length of the siding section. The face portion has an outer surface which is shaped to provide the appearance of a log at the exterior wall surface of the building, and an inner surface, and the top and bottom portions extend along top and bottom marginal regions of the inner surface of the face portion and inwardly of said inner surface, so as to define therebetween a space suitable for receiving insulation in contact with said inner surface of the face portion of the siding section.

[0007] In accordance with the method of the invention, it is possible to construct a building using conventional construction techniques, while achieving the external appearance of a log home. The siding is made of solid wood and accordingly has a realistic texture and “feel”. At the same time, the building can be constructed without the need for exceptional skills or the use of heaving lifting equipment, and at a cost comparable with the cost of conventional buildings.

[0008] The spaces at the inner surfaces of the siding sections can be fitted with insulation. Normally, the frame to which the siding is applied will itself be insulated in accordance with normal construction techniques. In that event, any insulation within the siding sections is supplementary or additional insulation.

[0009] The invention also provides a siding section for use in cladding a wall surface of a building, comprising a face portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, each of which is made of solid wood and extends over the length of the siding section. The face portion has an outer surface shaped to provide the appearance of a log to said exterior wall surface of the building, and an inner surface, and said top and bottom portions extend along top and bottom marginal regions of said face portion and inwardly of the inner surface of the face portion to define therebetween a space suitable for receiving insulation in contact with said inner surface of the face portion of the siding section.

[0010] The siding may be used as “retrofit” or replacement siding. As such, if the siding sections incorporate insulation, the replacement siding can be used to add insulation to an existing structure.

[0011] While the top and bottom portions of a siding section may be the same as one another, so that vertically adjacent siding sections will be simply butted together, the top and bottom portions preferably are complimentarily shaped so that the bottom portion of one siding section can inter-fit with the top portion of the siding section below for improved weather tightness.

[0012] Further, while a siding section may be made in one piece, i.e. with the top and bottom portions integral with the face portion, the three portions preferably are made separately and subsequently secured together to form the siding section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a simple rectangular building constructed in accordance with the method of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the internal frame of the building of FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a section of siding used to construct the building of FIG. 1; and,

[0017]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing vertically adjacent siding sections inter-fitted with one another and secured to the frame of the building.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring first to FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a building structure constructed in accordance with the method of the invention and having the appearance of a log cabin. The first step in the method is to erect a frame such as the frame 22 shown in FIG. 2. Frame 22 is a conventional “stick built” frame made of 2×4 (or larger) lengths of lumber that are nailed together on a foundation (not shown). The frame is entirely conventional and includes studs 24 that extend between sill plates 26 and header plates 28 in accordance with conventional building practice. Openings 30 for windows and doors are also framed in accordance with conventional practice.

[0019] Not shown in FIG. 2 is the roof structure of the building which will also be conventional.

[0020] Once the frame is in place, horizontal rows of siding are applied to exterior upright faces of the frame 22 to clad the faces of the frame and define exterior wall surfaces of the structure.

[0021] In FIG. 1, the rows of siding are individually denoted 32. Each row includes at least one elongate siding section, a typical one of which is denoted “S” in FIG. 1. Sections S will be made available in standard lengths, for example, of 8 feet, and will be butted together end-to-end where longer rows of siding are required. At corners of the building or around door and window openings, the ends of the sections S of siding abut against vertical trim members such as corner posts indicated at 34 in FIG. 1.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a typical siding section S. Each section is made up of a face portion 36, a top portion 38 and a bottom portion 40, each of which is made of solid wood and extends over the length of the siding section. The face portion has an outer surface 42 which is shaped to provide the appearance of a log to the exterior wall surface of the building. FIG. 3 shows by way of example an exterior surface 42 which has a somewhat angular shape. It is however to be understood that the surface may have any shape, for example, a more rounded arcuate shape in cross-section or a rough hewn “textured” shape.

[0023] The face portion 36 also has an inner surface 44 which in this embodiment is flat. The top and bottom portions 38, 40 extend along top and bottom marginal regions of the inner surface 44 inwardly of that surface to define a space 46 suitable for receiving insulation in contact with the inner surface of the face portion 36. In this embodiment, a foam insulation panel 48 is shown within the space. The insulation panel may be friction fitted or glued in place.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the three portions, 36, 38 and 40 of the siding section are made separately and secured together by gluing the top and bottom portions 38, 40 to the inner surface 44 of the face portion 36. Other fastening methods, such as nails or staples may of course be used instead. Also, the siding section could be made in one piece, though this almost certainly would be more costly.

[0025] The top and bottom portions 38, 40 could be identically shaped so that vertically adjacent siding sections can be simply butt-joined together. Preferably, however, the top and bottom portions are shaped to inter-fit with one another for improved weather tightness. In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion has a flange or tenon 50 that extends in the plane of the siding section and the bottom portion 40 has a complimentary recess or rabbet 52. Normally, the siding is applied a row at a time starting at the bottom. The flange 50 of each section is then presented at the top of the siding section. The next row of siding is applied above that section so that the rabbet 52 at the bottom of the next higher siding section fits over the flange 50.

[0026]FIG. 4 illustrates this assembly method. Parts of several vertically adjacent rows of siding are shown nailed to the frame 22. Though the siding is not necessarily affixed in this manner, in the illustrated embodiment, a single nail 54 is driven through both the bottom portion of an upper siding section and the top portion of the siding section below.

[0027] As noted above, the method of the invention allows the construction of buildings having exterior surfaces that simulate the appearance of a log structure without the cost and inconvenience of building using complete logs. At the same time, advantages are offered in terms of ease of insulation and, if required, supplementary insulation, for example, by way of the insulation panels 48 shown in FIG. 3.

[0028] Also as noted previously, the siding that is used in the method of the invention can be used both for new structures and on existing structures. Normally, the siding will be installed horizontally. However, if for some reason the appearance of a log built home is not required, the siding could be applied vertically. 

1. A method of constructing a building which includes the steps of: erecting a frame defining walls having upright exterior faces; and, applying to said faces, horizontal rows of siding to clad said faces and define exterior wall surfaces of the structure; wherein each row of siding includes at least one elongate siding section comprising a face portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, each of which is made of solid wood and extends over the length of the siding section, said face portion having an outer surface shaped to provide the appearance of a log to said exterior wall surface of the building, and an inner surface, and said top and bottom portions extending along top and bottom marginal regions of said face portion and inwardly of the inner surface of the face portion to define therebetween a space suitable for receiving insulation in contact with said inner surface of the face portion of the siding section.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom portions are complimentarily shaped in cross-section, and wherein said step of applying horizontal rows of siding to said upright faces of the frame includes applying a first section of siding to said frame and then applying a vertically adjacent section of siding to said frame with the top portion of a lower siding section inter-fitted with the bottom portion of a siding section above.
 3. A siding section for use in cladding a wall surface in a building, comprising a face portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, each of which is made of solid wood and extends over the length of the siding section, said face portion having an outer surface shaped to provide the appearance of a log to said exterior wall surface of the building, and an inner surface, and said top and bottom portions extending along top and bottom marginal regions of said face portion and inwardly of the inner surface of the face portion to define therebetween a space suitable for receiving insulation in contact with said inner surface of the face portion of the siding section.
 4. A siding section as claimed in claim 3, wherein said top and bottom portions of the siding section are complimentarily shaped in cross-section so that the top portion of a lower siding section in a row of vertically adjacent horizontal siding sections inter-fits with the bottom portion of a siding section above said lower section.
 5. A siding section as claimed in claim 4, wherein said top portion is shaped to define a flange and the bottom portion is shaped to define a complementary rabbet.
 6. A siding section as claimed in claim 3, wherein said face portion, top portion and bottom portion are made separately and subsequently secured together to form said siding section. 